Thermal Characterization of Foam Concrete Panels Containing Expanded Perlite-Polystyrene, Foam and Aerogel Layer

Abstract

For our country, which has few renewable energy supplies, energy sustainability is becoming increasingly vital. Foam concrete is a porous building material having air spaces created by foaming agents, as well as a high energy efficiency due to its pores. The goal of this research is to create building materials with high insulation properties by using expanded perlite and granular polystyrene foam as aggregates in foam concrete, as well as by creating an aerogel layer on the concrete surface. Thermal conductivity, physical and mechanical properties of samples produced using various cement types and aggregate ratios were analyzed. Thermal conductivity values and mechanical properties were found to be better in foam concrete samples made with Portland composite cement. The use of Portland composite cement resulted in the lowest thermal conductivity coefficient of 0,09848 W/m.K. The use of less expanded perlite in foam concrete, likewise polystyrene foam, increased the thermal conductivity coefficient. It has been discovered that using silica aerogel as a layer has no major effect on the change in the thermal conductivity coefficient, and more extensive studies should be conducted on its use in foam concrete.